older model saw rebuilds

[jarnii]

hi guys,

 

so I'm on the fence really, my climbing saw and big ground saws are sorted and catered for but now I'm after the middle of the range saws, I've been looking into getting a husqy 550 & 560 but I can't bring myself to waste my money because I know its investing in a load of rubbish. I've searched my local area and some 357xp are on the market for a good price.

 

so my question is, if I buy a couple of 357's and then they die in a few years how easy is a engine rebuild on these guys. id saw my mechanic abilities are middling and have a good % of tools to do the job but am I naive or is this just a time and patience game?

 

will appreciate any feed back and if its positive ill head off and go spend the kids xmas money on a way to pass the time.

 

tia

ben

[Mrblue5000]

Availability of parts is the problem, or to be more precise it's the price of available parts and finding them. older saws are probably easier to work on IMHO.

[Moose McAlpine]

1 hour ago, jarnii said:

I've been looking into getting a husqy 550 & 560 but I can't bring myself to waste my money because I know its investing in a load of rubbish.

 

How's that? They're really good saws.

[spudulike]

Older saws are relatively easy to work on but the first few are always a learning curve!

With the 357, it has crank stuffers which makes splitting and removing the crank shaft a little more difficult and the inlt boot isn't one of the easier ones to fit!

All saws have there own little foibles but if you think about an issue enough and use a bit of aptitude and grey matter, anything is possible.

Parts are OK to get hold of albeit Husqvarna parts can't ever be described as cheap! 

Plenty of people on here to bounce issues off!

 

[jmac]

1 hour ago, Moose McAlpine said:

 

How's that? They're really good saws.

They are soft as shite! I got a 550 for brashing and it just loves to shed parts. 

[Khriss]

A few years..... If it hasnt paid itself over in 12 months wot are you doing? A saw should always make you  money, its our profession.  K

[Khriss]

( had a chinese top handled saw made its money back in a day) 

[arboriculturist]

Spud has just refurbished and ported a 020T I bought new in 1999 !

 

Most people would have probably binned it but that was never going to happen with me.

 

I cant wait to get that one back.

 

Also a 15 year old 200T and a 12 year old MS 200. 

 

I could have spent the money on new, but I am not convinced it would be money well spent. (well maybe on a 2511 and 880) ?

 

[G13469]

Spud rebuilt and ported an old 395xp for me this year, and it's a weapon. Everyone that's tried it wants one and it sounds sweet ?

Edited November 27, 2020 by G13469
Needed a pic

[Moose McAlpine]

11 minutes ago, G13469 said:

Spud rebuilt and ported an old 395xp for me this year, and it's a weapon. Everyone that's tried it wants one and it sounds sweet ?

 

I have a brand new one to take to him. Been started but not done any cutting yet.